9/17/2016 6:00PM M1 The Beginning

9/17/2016 6:01PM

This is the first log entry into my MDLogbook. If your trying to follow my adventure through medical school you've come to the right place.

I just finished my first month of M1 and it was the most intense thing I had ever done. I was in class from 8:00AM - 5:00 PM every day for weeks, being presented material that I had never seen before. In college I used to study for 2 hours for every one hour of class. In medical school we have 4 or 5 major classes with 8 hours of class and about 5 hours to study all the material, do research, and be active in clubs etc. I am proud to say I have made it through the crucible, that is the first month of medical school, and come out the other side with a great deal of learnings and insight.

For me success has come down to figuring out a routine. I realized it takes me 1.5 hours max to re-listen to lectures and refine my notes. For BFCP and AFCP I found that it is all about the lectures, so knowing them well comes very handy. For Anatomical Fundamentals of Clinical Practice (AFCP) there is a practical 1-hour exam in addition to the written portion. For the practical portion I have started going into lab on my own free time to review the relevant structures. So far, my strategies have proven to be very effective; however, I am anticipating a game changer when we get to organ systems. When we get to Organ systems receiving advice from M2's and professors in tandem will be very helpful in preparing for the subject.

I also found out that I’m not a natural interviewer. In APM I got stumped pretty badly. It’s something I need to work on. I need to prepare for APM as well. Its good though now that I know it’s something I need to work on, I can adapt for it and make it one of my strengths.

I just started joining clubs. It’s weird a lot of clubs start having applications for their board super early. I may have missed a few deadlines in focusing on school.

I also need to find a mentor. Luckily Facebook has helped me so much with networking. When I meet people I immediately add them on Facebook and try my best to keep in touch with them; it’s amazing and people are so open to answering my questions. Facebook is a really really powerful tool; I just wish all physicians used it and thought of it in this way. I think it’s also a powerful tool for spreading your personal brand; I think it has to do with actually doing things that are good/amazing and actually documenting it. Well that’s what I’m trying to do anyway.

Capstone/Embark- I've heard a lot of conflicting advice with regards to this subject. People tell me to do what you love and to take on a project your passionate about. I have also received advice to take on a smaller project at the school one that is manageable and can finish quickly in order to spend the remainder of my time working on other research. I think I will do the latter because I can see myself biting off more than I can chew. Unfortunately, I have done this before and been unrealistic with my ability to commit to a project. I think it’s really important to err on the side of caution, if anything.